Critic Reviews

So with the classic, new-school, and infinitely customizable character roster at the ready, and with online play fully operational, it's not a stretch to say this might be 2008's best fighting game. Some other hot fighters -- notably Street Fighter IV, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, and Battle Fantasia -- are on the horizon, but considering how fun Soul Calibur 4 is after a month of nonstop play, I think it'd be hard to top what Namco's accomplished with what is unquestionably their best fighting game to date.

You like fighting games? You like deep fighting games? You looking for a deep, deep fighting game that will provide you with the online, offline play like no other fighting games can? Look no further than Soulcalibur IV. It, right now, is the best fighting game on the market... to date. Namco Bandai worked hard on this title, and it certainly shows. It's everything you wanted it to be and more.

Soulcalibur IV is the definition of how to make a sequel to a beloved franchise. Everything is dialed up and the amount of content will keep gamers occupied for months to come. The fighting engine is deep enough for hardcores to take pleasure in while easy enough for casuals to simply pick up and enjoy. There is plenty to see and do and the addition of online will add serious legs to this already highly replayable game. While it may be a bold statement, Soulcalibur IV is quite possibly the greatest 3D fighting game of all time and well worth your sixty bucks.

Diehard SoulCalibur fans might still not be satisfied with the 4th installment in the series. While they are stuck in the past comparing it to the Dreamcast game, the series have evolved in SoulCalibur IV and yet managed to bring back some key elements we enjoyed throughout the series. You shouldn’t call your game collection a “collection” without a great fighting game on the roster, and SoulCalibur IV fits that title perfectly. And keep all the good stuff we had to say about this game on one side, remember that with the PS3 version you will get to play as Darth Vader himself! So what exactly do you want more in a videogame?

Overall, Soul Calibur IV is an excellent title with loads of new features and the highest level of polish most fighting games have ever received. The smooth online play and deep character creator make this a must have for the pugilistic enthusiast, but it also wins points with its accessibility to newcomers. While it may not appeal to everyone, it definitely has enough under the hood to not disappoint those who want to take a peek.

For the first big fighting game of 2008 Soul Calibur IV is setting the bar high. It has an excellent game system that’s been honed considerably for this release. It offers plenty of game modes, online play for those that want it, and it also looks and sounds great. Whatever system you get it for, you won’t be disappointed.

Even though this installment has less single player content than SCIII, between its story mode, Tower of Lost Souls mode, online versus, and character creation, I’ve already spent over 120 hours playing this with no signs of stopping. Obviously, all of that single player content isn’t necessary to keep a person playing, and, really, isn’t the most important part of fighting games the multiplayer modes, anyway? If you are at all into the Soul series of fighting games, or even fighting games in general, this is definitely a game you need to check out. I’ll even allow you the honor of having a match against me if you get the PS3 version! How can you pass up an offer like that?

With online play, character customization and that balance of gameplay for casual button mashers and hardcore players, it’s hard for me not to recommend this game. Although the amount of unlockables have tremendously been cut down, especially since its Dreamcast iteration, the soul still burns brightly with this one and players will be having fun with this game for months and years to come.

Toss in some cool unlockable art and movies and you have one complete package. I can't gush enough about how excited I am that the Soulcalibur name has reclaimed its greatness in the annals of fighting titles. I used to be a huge fan back in the Dreamcast days, and since then have been let down year after year with failing sequels that didn't really impress, let alone evolve. Well Soulcalibur IV has done both, it has wowed me and evolved all in one fell swoop. In four words…Buy Soulcalibur IV today!

People who don’t like multiplayer will be disappointed with SoulCalibur V, but the heart of any good fighting game has always been the multiplayer, and SoulCalibur V sets the high bar for the series in that regard. The single-player modes are missed, but what SoulCalibur V lacks in single player content, it more than makes up for where it counts the most. If floors made of quicksand and poisonous swords are the price we have to pay for such a polished fighting system and robust online mode, so be it. In some ways, this is a low point for the series. In many other, more important ways, SoulCalibur V is the best the series has ever been.

In the end, whether it's your first time touching a Soul game or not, it's hard to not appreciate what's been done here: beautiful, crisp and bouncy graphics mix well with a fighter heavy on a classic formula of strategy, timing and execution, with it all backed by inviting-yet-deep character customization and creation. There are a few hiccups in presentation and a some odd choices here and there, but a strong heroic, rhythmic soundtrack nullifies any headaches you may get in trying to understand just what's going on with characters' stories. Now that gameplay feels to be right on, it seems like it's about time to show a bit of creativity and attention to all of the contexts within which we play, story and dynamic levels included.

All in all however, Soulcalibur IV is great fun and will appeal to a wide section of gamers for the lovely graphics (which look almost identical on PS3 and 360) and exciting character development. It not only looks beautiful but it sounds just as great with some wonderful weapon sounds. Once again however I have to give the edge to the Playstation 3 version, the install, while slightly annoying at the start, makes the game load significantly faster than its counterpart. Also Darth Vader is much more useful than the ill balanced 360 Yoda. Both are recommended, however if you are lucky enough to have both consoles, go for the Playstation 3 version, it is superior.

If I were Namco, I'd be thinking about the future of the fighting game tournament. Right now, it's largely the domain of pro gaming leagues at the broad end, and local promoters on the narrow. A thriving competitive community around a fantastic game like Soulcalibur IV could go a long way toward jumpstarting this sort of scene online. It's no secret that Capcom is taking community-building seriously these days, as Street Fighter IV's home release approaches. Fostering strong, meaningful online tournaments goes hand in hand with this sort of effort. Personally, provided Namco Bandai is equally mindful of this stuff, I believe that Soulcalibur IV has got just as much of a shot.

The Soul Calibur series hasn't changed much over the years, which is a good thing because it set the gold standard of what exceptional fighting games should be modeled after. SCIV takes the existing winning formula and carefully adds new elements to make this edition the best edition ever. The PS3 version edges out the 360 version slightly because Yoda is left out and the optional install speed ups frequent loading times. Start the fight on the stage of history for the fourth time, you will not regret it one ounce playing the best fighter of this generation, thus far.

Even with occasional online hiccups, Soulcalibur IV is a very solid game, and excels in almost all areas. If it has one fault it's that they tried to cater more to the hardcore fighting crowd and ignore the casual gamers with the de-emphasis on single player story mode, but really, who can blame them? And if casual gamers can get past the lack of story modes and get into the meat of the game, there are hours and hours of fun to be had unlocking new equipment, mastering fighters, and taking the fight to your friends online. No matter how you slice it, Soulcalibur IV is a great game--even for those who don't consider themselves hardcore fans of the fighting genre.

The game is far from perfect, that is to be sure, and it does little to further the dwindling fighting game genre. That said, the additions that have been added work in the game’s favor and make it the best fighting game this generation. The customization, online play, and great game mechanics make this title a must-purchase for any fan of the series, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to explore the genre.

Soul Calibur 4 offers an incredible volume of characters, modes, and extras. With every worthwhile addition there is some filler, but online play - lag or not - is a nice step forward. Though the best player may not always win, pop this game in at a party and everyone will want to play. It may not set your soul on fire, but it should keep it warm until the next installment.

If you like your fighting games then this is a no brainer as Soul Calibur IV is one of the best fighting games in years. Graphically and sonically the game is superb, and the gameplay intense. We would have loved to see some more game modes, and longer Story modes, but there are so many characters to get to grips with here that you could spend months getting to grips with them all. Add this to your collection now!

All in all, SoulCalibur IV is a great addition to the franchise. There's a good amount of play modes, excellent character customization options, a strong character roster, smooth (though intricate) controls, and exciting online play. It's difficult to say which of the two versions is better, even though I think Yoda's the best. Both Yoda and Sith Lord Darth Vader will eventually be downloadable characters through Xbox LIVE and PlayStation Network, so I don't think their current separation is a big issue.

In the end, Soul Calibur IV is a great title to have in your collection, and as we said before, you really don't need to be a fighting expert. In fact, if you are, you might be disappointed in the lack of a challenge. But that's what Versus is for, and there's more than enough in the way of customization and upgrading options to satisfy you for an extended period of time. Yeah, most of the character stories are silly and even convoluted, and the English voice cast isn't very good, but the game itself is just packed to the brim with entertainment value. You can pick on any number of relatively significant drawbacks - like the ease of play and the depth falling short as a result - but there's no denying the fun factor. Equipment shatters, impacts are loud and satisfying, the number of moves is mind-boggling, and you can create just about anything in the Character Creation section. All good things, and they come together to make SCIV ceaselessly grin-inducing.

All in all, this game is definitely worth checking out, even if you’re only vaguely into fighting games. It’s much easier to get into than Tekken or Virtua Fighter, and the characters are generally - in my opinion at least - much more interesting. If you’re sitting on the fence, give this one a rent. But if you consider yourself a fighting fan or a longtime Soul Cal vet, then…well, you’ve probably bought this already.

Frame-counters and other savants will probably have issues with some aspects of Soulcalibur IV's gameplay, but the average player or fighting game enthusiast is well served by this title's array of game types and tight weapon-based duels. I know I'm more than satisfied.

Despite the aforementioned concerns, Soulcalibur IV is a lot of fun and I highly recommend it, especially -- as I said before -- to fans of the series. The game runs well, looks beautiful, sports great music and obviously has enjoyable combat. The PS3 and 360 versions are just about identical (barring the differing guest characters), though I felt that the optional install on the PS3 made things feel even quicker and more polished. In the end, both are worthy members of a long- standing series and you won't be disappointed with the purchase. Now get that soul burning.

Soul Calibur IV is a beautiful looking fighting game that pushes the long running franchise into some new ground while keeping the core gameplay near the same level. The roster has been filled up with an assortment of wonderful characters, including three Star Wars cameos, but if that wasn’t enough make your own fighters, or edit the current souls waiting for battle. Namco Bandai covers new ground trying its hand at the online world of gaming with multiplayer versus, and the ability to download new content for the game. Soul Calibur IV might not re-invent the deadly battler, but it does a great job giving fans what they want and a little more. Either on the PS3 with Vader, or the 360 with Yoda, Soul Calibur IV is a safe purchase and a game that will be in your collection for a long time.

All in all, Soulcalibur IV is a high quality game which will keep you coming back for more. From the surprisingly addictive character customization to the challenging Tower of Lost Souls, this game is well crafted and presented, leaving little room for improvement. Although the story mode will disappoint some and the voice acting is shocking, Soulcalibur IV brings a lot to the table with refined gameplay mechanics and is certainly a game worth adding to your collection.

Soul Calibur IV is the first next-gen platform title in the series. There are very few new features, but the ones that are present are rock solid. Lag free online play and the new Tower of Lost Souls mode make for some compelling gameplay, and the graphics are certainly beautiful. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does handle almost everything right. Players will have to decide for themselves whether their online or offline habits justify the price. Now that the base has been built, I look forward to seeing what new features Namco Bandai can bring to Soul Calibur V.

The game’s story mode is great for those who love the unique histories behind the characters and Arcade mode ramps up the difficulty for those who come for the action, but Tower of Souls is where the real challenge and a lot of this game’s replay value lies. Of course, that’s just the offline stuff. Once you go online, you get a chance to prove yourself against some real life opponents...assuming you can connect to a match, that is. But, more than just skill, you can also show off your creativity with Soulcalibur IV’s deep character creator, even though there is no way to directly share your creations with people you meet online. All in all, the game has its problems, but for fans of the series or even just fighters in general, it is a solid title that should fill the time for those burnt out on the last Tekken and still awaiting the next Street Fighter.

SoulCalibur IV doesn’t stir up the pot too much, offering mostly the same gameplay as previous entries. Fortunately, the franchise has it down to a science, and the addition of online play further sweetens the deal.

The fact that Yoda and Vader are exclusive to the 360 and the PS3 respectively is easily the most pronounced difference between the two versions, but given that both games have an empty box on the Star Wars row of the character-select screen, it seems reasonable to assume that it'll no longer be an issue once downloadable content starts coming. The only other noteworthy difference between the two games is that the PS3 version offers an optional install to make the load times between fights shorter. Depending on how seriously you take your fighting games, the controllers that you use to play Soulcalibur IV might also be a consideration The PS3 controller's D pad is superior to the Xbox 360's on this occasion, but the latter's analog sticks fare a lot better. The question, then, isn't whether or not you should play Soulcalibur IV, it's which version you should play.

Move over Mortal Kombat, there is a new fighting game in town in Soul Caliber IV. I have been one of the biggest fans of the Mortal Kombat series, ever since my first experiences on the Gameboy and Super Nintendo, and I wasn’t very excited about playing Soul Caliber IV because it seemed exactly like a knock off version of Mortal Kombat but with swords. To my surprise this game was above and beyond every expectation I had. Yes this is a hand to hand combat game, but the way it is played sets it about the rest.

If you like beat 'em ups you can't go wrong with Soul Calibur IV. It can be frustrating just how far button mashing will get you in this game, but thankfully it doesn't spoil the game too much. If you're after an accessible and fun fighter then you should pick this up. If you're after you're next hardcore fighter, you may be better off letting this one slide past you.

So there you have it - another page in the history of Soul Calibur is written to the polite applause of this reviewer. SCIV certainly doesn’t break any new ground, but it continues to do what it does best by providing us with some of the best weapons-based fighting action in town. The character customization is worth the price of admission, and the online game will keep you coming back for more.

I think Virtua Fighter 5 is still the most technical, but Soul Calibur is flashy and fun, and the large amount of interesting characters gives it what it takes to become a living room favourite. 8/10 from me.

From its first appearance, the Soul Calibur series laid a legitimate claim to the fighting genre throne. Soul Calibur IV brings the supremely balanced fantasy fighting to the next gen systems, with great success. There are a few drawbacks, such as the spotty online and the woefully inadequate storylines, but the pros far outweigh the cons. This is one of the easiest video game recommendations I've been able to make in a long time. Highly Recommended.

Soul Calibur IV doesn’t change a lot of the core experiences from the series, however it does continue to offer new reasons to keep playing. With the story mode, Tales of Swords, create a character and online modes, there are plenty of reasons to keep playing if you have no friends locally to play. Also the armor system adds a new incentive for players to not only stay off their own guard but to vary their attacks on an opponent, hoping for that elusive critical finish. It would have been nice to see a few more new characters that belong in the Soul Calibur universe, but it’s a minor problem in an otherwise great game. This one will keep your soul burning for some time.

Even with all the positives running for the game, I still felt a little bit underwhelmed by SCIV, it’s definitely still a solid entry to the series and finally being able to play online is worth the buy. If you are new to the series, I do not think you’ll be disappointed.

One of the main selling points for this newest of the series is the addition of Star Wars characters - Yoda for the 360, Darth Vader for the PS3 and The Apprentice from the upcoming Force Unleashed on both consoles. They're... decent enough at best. Vader is suitably lumbering and nails, though he does seem to move quicker than he probably should, and he does fit in the game pretty well. The problem is it all seems a bit superfluous, and never feels like anything more than a cynical cash-in. Put Star Wars on the front cover and you're sure to lure in more plebs to throw their cash your way, and it obviously draws attention to the upcoming Lucasarts title. Bah.

All of this combines to form one of the most enjoyable fighting games in history, a punishing romp through the ages where swords and souls collide. Sure, it has flaws, but Soulcalibur IV's thrilling fights, competitive online mode and bounty of extras thrusts it to the very top of our must play list. No matter which version you choose, your soul still burns.

Despite the minor step backwards in single player depth, SoulCalibur IV remains a gorgeous, fast-paced, accessible fighter that also has enough depth for expert level play. While online is more of a novelty than a functional feature, players looking for a next-gen upgrade to the on-the-couch weapons clasher of the Dreamcast days will find the same addicting gameplay here.

Despite the new gameplay features failing to change Soulcalibur's gameplay, Soulcalibur IV still manages to provide one of the most engaging and rewarding fighters around - plus Darth and Yoda aren't entirely that bad.

While SCIII didn't go over well with fans, I think Namco more than makes up for it for SCIV. It's accessible, packs deep character customization, has much needed online play, not to mention it looks great and runs smoothly. However, the true test of SCIV's longevity in gamer hearts will come later on when Street Fighter IV finally hits.

The first hour of play feels wonderfully fresh, what with the new Critical Finishers, character customisation and online play. But after that SoulCalibur IV starts to feel increasingly familiar. In reality, this is a reserved effort from Namco Bandai, and feels almost as if Project Soul has merely dipped its toe in the next-gen water for fear of causing too big a splash. It's gorgeous, and an essential purchase for any fighting game fan who likes aggressive counters and weapon clashes, but it's no fighting game revolution. Looks like we'll have to wait till SoulCalibur V comes out for that.

SoulCalibur IV dots all the Is and crosses all the Ts, but doesn’t have a lot of life when you get beyond the brief thrill of playing a perfunctory beat-em-up with Yoda and Darth Vader. There aren’t any serious missteps here, so anyone looking for a stereotypical beat-em-up should be plenty entertained. But this game clearly had the potential to be much more than that, so it’s hard to come away completely satisfied.

All said and done, I can't help but feel like this is still just the same old game, and instead of hiding it with a face-lift or arbitrary features, Project Soul haven't even tried to mask its age. And that's what it comes down to, with Tekken V, Virtua Fighter V, Street Fighter IV and now this, it could actually be time the fighting genre, as a whole, went through a much needed revamp, even beyond cosmetic. I'm not one to try and break a golden set of fighting game rules, but if all you're doing is paying full-price for what is essentially just an expansion, then something needs to be done. Soul Calibur IV certainly maintains its solid fighting mechanics, but has done very little else to elevate the series in any way, and even the small gesture of adding Star Wars characters has left the community in an uproar - here's hoping a change is on the horizon.

Overall, it's sort of hard to recommend Soulcalibur IV to anyone who isn't already a big fan of the series. It felt like everything I liked about the game (the actual fighting) was countered by something else (the meaningless story mode, equipment stats, Ivy's creepy-looking boobs) that made me want to take the disc out and put it away forever.